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Trip from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

66.3 mi

107 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Alafaya, FL, FL

Alafaya, FL

Arian Fernandez

city in Polk County, Florida, United States

Lakeland, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Colonial Drive, Alafaya Trail, North Alafaya Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.55 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

33.1 miles from Alafaya, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 66.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Colonial Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Colonial Drive Unavailable Refreshing
Alafaya Trail Unavailable Refreshing
North Alafaya Trail Unavailable Refreshing
FL 408 Unavailable Refreshing
East-West Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
I 4 Unavailable Refreshing
I 4 West Unavailable Refreshing
CR 582 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Colonial Drive — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alafaya, FL and Lakeland, FL.

1

Start on O'Berry Hoover Road

0.2 mi · 55 sec · O'Berry Hoover Road
2

Turn right onto East Colonial Drive

0.2 mi · 28 sec · East Colonial Drive
3

Turn right onto Alafaya Trail

0.6 mi · 1 min · Alafaya Trail
4

Continue on North Alafaya Trail

0.4 mi · 54 sec · North Alafaya Trail
5

Take the ramp slight right toward FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee

0.3 mi · 44 sec · FL 408 Toll West: Orlando, Ocoee
6

Merge slight left onto East-West Expressway

10 mi · 11 min · East-West Expressway
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach

171 ft · 4 sec · I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
8

Continue on I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach

0.2 mi · 28 sec · I 4: Tampa, Daytona Beach
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 4 West: Tampa

1.1 mi · 2 min · I 4 West: Tampa
10

Merge slight left

48 mi · 54 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward CR 582: Lakeland

0.3 mi · 53 sec · CR 582: Lakeland
12

Turn left onto North Socrum Loop Road

0.5 mi · 53 sec · North Socrum Loop Road
13

Turn right onto Lakeland Hills Boulevard

2.9 mi · 5 min · Lakeland Hills Boulevard
14

Continue on North Massachusetts Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Massachusetts Avenue
15

At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Morton Drive

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Lake Morton Drive
16

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

423 ft · 19 sec · East Walnut Street
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.1 miles from Alafaya, FL, or about 42m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 66.3 miles or 1h 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 33.1 miles or 42m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Alafaya, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alafaya, FL

This is one driving day of about 66.3 miles and 1h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alafaya, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.1 mi from Alafaya, FL · 42m into the drive

city in and county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orlando, FL

33 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Orlando, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orlando, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Alafaya, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lakeland, FL

The final approach into Lakeland, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lakeland, FL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.55 one way

$21.11 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $11.48 $22.96
premium $4.72 $12.33 $24.66
diesel $5.61 $14.64 $29.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.9 0 $6.96 $3.18
Efficient EV 16.6 0 $5.80 $2.65
EV Truck/SUV 26.5 0 $9.28 $4.24

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Alafaya, FL

Afternoon in Alafaya on Wednesday

Local time

3:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeland, FL

Afternoon in Lakeland on Wednesday

Local time

3:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 24m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colonial Drive, Alafaya Trail, North Alafaya Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 miles from Alafaya, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alafaya, FL to Lakeland, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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